Energy News Digest for May 13, 2010

All the links in today’s news digest lead to current stories. Please note that some media organizations update their web sites regularly, which may result in broken links in the future.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

California - Pacific Gas & Electric Acknowledges Thousands of Inaccurate SmartMeter Bills (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_15057399

$40 Million Salmon Hatchery Planned at Chief Joseph Dam – Funded by Bonneville Power Administration (Associated Press)

http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=12471348

Conservation Groups in Oregon Seek Wind Energy Ban on Steens Mountain (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2010/05/conservation_groups_seeks_wind.html

Cape Wind Foes Eye Law - May sue over Massachusetts ‘green’ energy-buying mandate (Boston Herald, MA)

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/us_politics/view/20100513cape_wind_foes_eye_law_may_sue_over_massachusetts_green_energy-buying_mandate/

Senate Gets Climate & Energy Bill, Modified by the Gulf Spill (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/13/science/earth/13climate.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

·         California - Pacific Gas & Electric Acknowledges Thousands of Inaccurate SmartMeter Bills

·         California Utility Learns Painful PR Lesson

·         Spokesman Review Op/Ed - For Hanford to Improve, Yucca Must be an Option

·         Moody’s Investor Service Upgrades Mason County PUD No. 3 Bond Rating

·         Pacific Gas & Electric Will Reverse Opt-Outs by Marin County Electricity Customers

·         Des Moines Register Op/Ed - Look to Electric Co-Ops as a Model for America Today

·         Financing: Using Stimulus Funds to Advance Hydro Development

·         Kentucky - Environmental Groups Challenge Permit for East Kentucky Power Plant

·         Duke Energy Expects Coal Costs to Rise

·         Virginia - American Electric Power Tackles Cost Issues

·         New York Power Grid Faces Rules Impact

·         North Dakota Oil Patch Continues Path of Record Production

·         Texas - Family Hit with $8,000 Energy Bill

·         Online Bill Paying Rises to 64 Percent

·         $40 Million Salmon Hatchery Planned at Chief Joseph Dam

·         New Orting Salmon Hatchery Would be Flood-Free

·         Yakima County - Cowiche Creek Fish Plan Loses Backing of Irrigation District

·         Douglas County - Farmland Designated for Wildlife in Washington & Colorado

·         BP Caves to Pressure, Releases First Video of Oil Gushing into Gulf

·         Army Corps Increasing Green River Flow

·         Washington State Auditor Questions Spending by Puget Sound Cleanup Group

·         Power Problems at Mabton’s Treatment Plant Are Fixed

·         Clallam PUD Cooperative Wind Farm on Shaky Ground

·         Grays Harbor PUD Uncertain About Radar Ridge Wind Farm

·         Conservation Groups in Oregon Seek Wind Energy Ban on Steens Mountain

·         Cape Wind Foes Eye Law - May sue over Massachusetts ‘green’ energy-buying mandate

·         Boston Globe Editorial - Though Wind Power Isn’t Free, Benefits Justify Extra Cost

·         Wind Turbine Blade Petition Hits Ohio

·         Snohomish County’s Solar Project Under Construction

·         Grant Program Opens for Oregon Wave Energy Hydro Projects

·         Traverse City Light & Power Biomass Plant Site Won’t Fly

·         Special Report: The Pennsylvania Incinerator That May Burn Municipal Investors

·         Vancouver Sun Op/Ed - Clean Energy: You Get What You Pay For

·         Explosive Growth for LED Lights in Next Decade, Report Says

·         Curbing Kilowatts in Private Buildings

·         Nevada Regulators & Utility Debate Saving Money or Electricity

·         Avista Selected as 2009 Utility Company of the Year by Unified Foodservice

·         Senate Gets Climate & Energy Bill, Modified by the Gulf Spill

·         Energy Bill Aimed to Stem Global Warming, Create Jobs

·         States Wary of New Climate Change Bill

·         Big Utilities Weigh in on New Climate Change Bill, the American Power Act

·         NY Times Op/Ed - A Bad Bet on Carbon

·         Environmental Protection Agency Moves to Regulate Smokestack Greenhouse Gases

·         Green Practices Conflict with Homeowner Association Rules

·         Schwarzenegger Backs California as Hub for Green Jobs

·         Will the Chevy Volt get its juice from Google?

·         Cincinnati Bell Buys Data Center Operator CyrusOne

·         Verizon to Fulfill 4G Promise to Rural Americans?

·         German Court: Secure Your Hotspot or be Fined

·         Eight Websites You (Really Do) Need to Stop Building

·         Gregoire Headed to DC to be Solicitor General?

·         Soda Wholesalers Weighing Tax-Rollback Initiative

·         Infant Taken from Local Hospital Found in Idaho

·         Union Man Found Dead in his Home

·         Jury to Decide Fate of Man Who Branded Children like Cattle

·         $1.1 Million Settlement over I-5 Cable Barriers

·         Fired for Not Being ‘Pretty & Flirtatious’ Enough?

·         Emerging Gulf of Mexico Oil Rig Evidence Shows Lack of Regulation

WORD OF THE DAY

Faustian • \FOW-stee-un\ • adjective - Of, relating to, resembling or suggesting Faust; especially: made or done for present gain without regard for future cost or consequences

Abernathy’s trembling hands reached out for the “holy grail” of tiddlywinks aficionados: a sixteenth century, dime-sized chip of ivory that belonged to Brian “The Thumb” Hudson-Trimble..a giant in early professional tiddlywinks circles. Unfortunately for Abernathy, he was forced to make a Faustian bargain: since all new chips are made from plastic, he could not use the famed piece in any competition.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/mapclick.php?textfield1=47.213805&textfield2=-123.113412&site=all&smap=1&searchresult=shelton%2c%20wa%2c%20usa

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

California - Pacific Gas & Electric Acknowledges Thousands of Inaccurate SmartMeter Bills (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_15057399

California Utility Learns Painful PR Lesson (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/blog/post/2010/05/cali-utility-learns-painful-pr-lesson?cmpid=rss

Spokesman Review Op/Ed - For Hanford to Improve, Yucca Must be an Option

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/may/13/for-hanford-to-improve-yucca-must-be-an-option/

Moody’s Investor Service Upgrades Mason County PUD No. 3 Bond Rating (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/news/2137-moodys-investor-service-upgrades-mason-county-pud-no-3-bond-rating

Pacific Gas & Electric Will Reverse Opt-Outs by Marin County Electricity Customers - Some may have been influenced by questionable PG&E tactics (San Francisco Business Times)

http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/2010/05/10/daily46.html

Des Moines Register Op/Ed - Look to Electric Co-Ops as a Model for America Today

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20100513/OPINION01/5130340/-1/HAWKEYE_INSIDER/Guest-column-Look-to-electric-co-ops-as-a-model-for-America-today

Financing: Using Stimulus Funds to Advance Hydro Development (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2010/05/financing-using-stimulus-funds-to-advance-hydro-development?cmpid=rss

Kentucky - Environmental Groups Challenge Permit for East Kentucky Power Plant “…urged the cooperative to look instead at renewable fuels & other ways to persuade customers to use less electricity…” (Lexington Herald-Leader, KY)

http://www.kentucky.com/2010/05/12/1262247/environmental-groups-challenge.html

Duke Energy Expects Coal Costs to Rise (Triangle Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/stories/2010/05/10/daily38.html

Virginia - American Electric Power Tackles Cost Issues: Putting some generating units on standby & reducing its work force (Roanoke Times, VA)

http://www.roanoke.com/business/wb/246619

New York Power Grid Faces Rules Impact - NYISO president warns that new regulations could reduce reliability (Albany Times-Union, NY)

http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=930574&category=BUSINESS

North Dakota Oil Patch Continues Path of Record Production (Associated Press)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2010/05/13/financial/f092505D83.DTL&feed=rss.business

Texas - Family Hit with $8,000 Energy Bill - Data Entry Error Blamed for Huge Undercharge (Associated Press)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/23541243/detail.html

Online Bill Paying Rises to 64 Percent (Washington Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2010/05/10/daily46.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

$40 Million Salmon Hatchery Planned at Chief Joseph Dam – Funded by Bonneville Power Administration (Associated Press)

http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=12471348

New Orting Salmon Hatchery Would be Flood-Free (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/05/13/1184520/new-hatchery-would-be-flood-free.html

Yakima County - Cowiche Creek Fish Plan Loses Backing of Irrigation District (Yakima Herald Republic, WA)

http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2010/05/12/cowiche-creek-fish-plan-loses-backing-of-irrigation-district

Douglas County - Farmland Designated for Wildlife in Washington & Colorado (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011849642_apcowildlifeconservation.html?syndication=rss

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

BP Caves to Pressure, Releases First Video of Oil Gushing into Gulf (Yahoo! News)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/ynews_sc2031

Army Corps Increasing Green River Flow (Associated Press)

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/05/13/1237440/army-corps-increasing-green-river.html

Washington State Auditor Questions Spending by Puget Sound Cleanup Group (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011850790_pugetsound13m.html?syndication=rss

Power Problems at Mabton’s Treatment Plant Are Fixed (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=12472953

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Clallam PUD Cooperative Wind Farm on Shaky Ground (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.konp.com/local/5763

Grays Harbor PUD Uncertain About Radar Ridge Wind Farm (Associated Press)

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/6420ap_wa_wind_farm_naselle.html

Conservation Groups in Oregon Seek Wind Energy Ban on Steens Mountain (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2010/05/conservation_groups_seeks_wind.html

Cape Wind Foes Eye Law - May sue over Massachusetts ‘green’ energy-buying mandate (Boston Herald, MA)

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/us_politics/view/20100513cape_wind_foes_eye_law_may_sue_over_massachusetts_green_energy-buying_mandate/

Boston Globe Editorial - Though Wind Power Isn’t Free, Benefits Justify Extra Cost

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2010/05/13/though_wind_power_isnt_free_benefits_justify_extra_cost/

Wind Turbine Blade Petition Hits Ohio - Wind turbine blade stirs Columbus residents to think about renewable energy (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2010/05/wind-turbine-blade-petition-hits-ohio?cmpid=rss

Snohomish County’s Solar Project Under Construction (Lake Stevens Journal, WA)

http://www.lakestevensjournal.com/county-state/article.exm/2010-05-13_county_s_solar_project_under_construction

Grant Program Opens for Oregon Wave Energy Hydro Projects (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2010/05/grant-program-opens-for-oregon-wave-energy-hydro-projects?cmpid=rss

Traverse City Light & Power Biomass Plant Site Won’t Fly - Airport Visibility Issues Force Utility Officials to Find New Place to Build (Traverse City Eagle, MI)

http://record-eagle.com/local/x433567646/L-P-biomass-plant-site-wont-fly

Special Report: The Pennsylvania Incinerator That May Burn Municipal Investors (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE64B2PM20100512

Vancouver Sun Op/Ed - Clean Energy: You Get What You Pay For

http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Clean+energy+what/3021960/story.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Explosive Growth for LED Lights in Next Decade, Report Says (SolveClimate)

http://solveclimate.com/blog/20100513/explosive-growth-led-lights-next-decade-report-says

Curbing Kilowatts in Private Buildings - Commercial structures offer huge potential for energy savings (Portland Tribune, OR)

http://www.portlandtribune.com/sustainable/story.php?story_id=127367760436959400

Nevada Regulators & Utility Debate Saving Money or Electricity (Las Vegas Review, NV)

http://www.lvrj.com/business/nevada-power-co_-debates-saving-money-or-electricity-93629564.html

Avista Selected as 2009 Utility Company of the Year by Unified Foodservice Purchasing Co-Op (Electric Energy Online)

http://www.electricenergyonline.com/?page=show_news&rss=1&id=133643

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Senate Gets Climate & Energy Bill, Modified by the Gulf Spill (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/13/science/earth/13climate.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Energy Bill Aimed to Stem Global Warming, Create Jobs (Associated Press)

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h5iS14YOIUrpdmPuNylwKcVpSnmAD9FLJMQ00

States Wary of New Climate Change Bill (Nat’l Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126789527&ft=1&f=3

Big Utilities Weigh in on New Climate Change Bill, the American Power Act (CleanTechnica)

http://cleantechnica.com/2010/05/12/big-utilities-weigh-in-on-new-climate-change-bill-the-american-power-act/

NY Times Op/Ed - A Bad Bet on Carbon

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/13/opinion/13bryce.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Environmental Protection Agency Moves to Regulate Smokestack Greenhouse Gases (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2011855644_apusepagreenhousegases.html?syndication=rss

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Green Practices Conflict with Homeowner Association Rules (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/2010-05-12-green-conflict_N.htm

Schwarzenegger Backs California as Hub for Green Jobs (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/2010/05/13/2746982/greenhub-apoisdfopau-sdiopf-aopsidf.html

Will the Chevy Volt get its juice from Google? (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Innovation/Horizons/2010/0512/Will-the-Chevy-Volt-get-its-juice-from-Google

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Cincinnati Bell Buys Data Center Operator CyrusOne (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2011850243_apuscincinnatibellcyrusoneacquisition.html?syndication=rss

Verizon to Fulfill 4G Promise to Rural Americans? (CNET News)

http://news.cnet.com/8301-30686_3-20004859-266.html?tag=nl.e703

German Court: Secure Your Hotspot or be Fined - Musician sued vacationing user for unsecured hotspot (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/German-Court-Secure-Your-Hotspot-Or-Be-Fined-108363

Eight Websites You (Really Do) Need to Stop Building (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/2010/05/11/8-websites-you-really-do-need-to-stop-building/

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Gregoire Headed to DC to be Solicitor General? - Governor reportedly not interested in being solicitor general (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/05/13/1184535/gregoire-headed-to-dc.html

Soda Wholesalers Weighing Tax-Rollback Initiative (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politicsnorthwest/2011851089_soda_wholesalers_weighing_tax-.html?syndication=rss

GENERAL NEWS

Infant Taken from Local Hospital Found in Idaho (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/419953_baby12.html?source=rss

Union Man Found Dead in his Home (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/news/2138-union-man-found-dead-in-his-home

Jury to Decide Fate of Man Who Branded Children like Cattle - Children Said They Wanted It (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20100513/NEWS/305139990

$1.1 Million Settlement over I-5 Cable Barriers (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20100513/NEWS01/705139943/-1/rss02

Fired for Not Being ‘Pretty & Flirtatious’ Enough? Former Bremerton City Employee Says Yes in Lawsuit (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2010/may/12/fired-for-not-being-pretty-and-flirtatious-city/?partner=RSS

Emerging Gulf of Mexico Oil Rig Evidence Shows Lack of Regulation (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2011852107_apusgulfoilspill.html?syndication=rss

DIVERSIONS

Paper Company Plans Campaign to Encourage Kids to Print Things Out (Note - Comment section may contain PG-13 language)

http://consumerist.com/2010/05/paper-company-plans-campaign-to-encourage-kids-to-print-things-out.html

Entiat Woman Solves Mystery of Message in a Bottle

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011850264_entiat13.html?syndication=rss

Hotel ATM Dispenses Gold Bars, Gold Coins

http://www.kirotv.com/money/23530034/detail.html

Subway’s Lawyers Tell Rest of World to Stop Selling “Footlong” Sandwiches

http://consumerist.com/2010/05/subways-lawyers-tell-rest-of-world-to-stop-selling-footlong-sandwiches.html

SONG OF THE DAY

John Stewart - Gold

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJiDRiCM1Fo

Energy News Digest for May 12, 2010

All the links in today’s news digest lead to current stories. Please note that some media organizations update their web sites regularly, which may result in broken links in the future.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Over Energy Subsidy Dispute - Alcoa to Temporarily Curb Aluminum Output in Italy “…Alcoa has complained about high power prices in Italy…Italy’s parliament approved a power decree offering favorable conditions to some industrial consumers to convince Alcoa to keep its Italian plants working…” (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN1111089320100511

Central Russian Hydropower Plant Blast Kills Two, Wounds One (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2011844799_apeurussiapowerplant.html?syndication=rss

Grays Harbor PUD Has “Big Question Mark” on Radar Ridge Wind Project (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2010/05/11/local_news/doc4be9b34424534375394210.txt

Oregon Adopts New Energy Efficiency Code (Eugene Register-Guard, OR)

http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/business/24784448-46/energy-code-efficiency-oregon-areas.csp

US Senate’s Climate Bill Makes Its Debut (NY Times)

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/05/12/senate-climate-bill-makes-its-debut-today/?partner=rss&emc=rss

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

·         Over Energy Subsidy Dispute - Alcoa To Temporarily Curb Aluminum Output in Italy

·         Talks Between ‘Car Guys’ Got Jefferson PUD-PSE Deal Rolling

·         Port Townsend Leader Op/Ed - Jefferson PUD Foresees Benefits of Community-Based Power

·         Port Townsend Leader Op/Ed - PUD Zapped Customers in East Jefferson County

·         Central Russian Hydropower Plant Blast Kills Two, Wounds One

·         Snowpack Isn’t Helping Chelan PUD’s Melting Budget

·         Natural Gas Complements Renewables

·         Kootenai Electric Lines Hit by Avista Crews

·         Grays Harbor PUD Commissioner, Seely Won’t Run for Re-Election

·         Texas - Pedernales Electric Cooperative Members Want Say in Co-Op’s Charitable Giving

·         West Coast Salmon Fishing to be Monitored

·         Summer Steelhead Season Still On

·         Chehalis River Dam Plan Pitched To Grays Harbor County Commissioners

·         Chesapeake Bay Settlement Has EPA Agreeing To Enforce Pollution Reduction Goals

·         Grays Harbor PUD Has “Big Question Mark” on Radar Ridge Wind Project

·         Developer Adage Hopeful on Two US $250 Million Biopower Plants

·         Indiana - Regulators to Hear Comments on Scottsburg Biomass Project

·         Panel OKs Plan to Burn Biomass at University of Wisconsin Power Plant

·         Columbian Editorial - Analyzing Biomass: Cutting-Edge Power Industry Is Taking Hold in Proposed Pacific Northwest Projects

·         Biomass Magazine Op/Ed - Biomass Power is a Natural Fit

·         Air Quality: Moses Lake Silicon Plant Fined $14,000

·         Idaho Presents Itself as the ‘Green Energy State’

·         Kennewick Company, Infinia to Get $3 Million for Solar Battery Research

·         Everett Solar Panels to Power Electric Cars

·         Solar Stampede Prompts Temporary Halt for New Jersey Rebate Program

·         Oregon Adopts New Energy Efficiency Code

·         Philips Offers LED Replacement for 60-Watt Bulb

·         US Senate’s Climate Bill Makes Its Debut

·         NY Times Analysis - The American Power Act

·         Glacier National Park Turns 100, But May Not Last Another 10

·         Microsoft Gets More Aggressive With Free Software

·         US Broadband Demand Bounces Back

·         Zoom! Zoom! Why Our Insatiable Need for Broadband Equals Bigger Pipes

·         Cable Worries about Web Video as Fee Disputes Grow

·         One in Four Households with Cell Phone, No Landline

·         Tax Bills in 2009 at Lowest Level since 1950

·         Public Gets First Look at Mason General Hospital Expansion & Remodel Plans

·         Sequim Man on Trial for Branding Children “Like Cattle”

·         C-17 Workers Strike Boeing in Long Beach, California

·         Libyan Jet Crash Kills 103, Boy Only Survivor

·         Acquisition of 1,300 Acres Would Expand Dosewallips State Park

·         Swarms of Grasshoppers Predicted To Plague the West This Year

·         Drifting Satellite Threatens US Cable Programming

·         Thieves Steal Controversial War Memorial Cross in Mojave Desert

·         Peter Frampton Concerts Cancelled in Shelton, WA & AZ

WORD OF THE DAY

Arbiter • \ARE-bet-ter\ • noun - 1: a person with power to decide a dispute: judge 2: a person or agency whose judgment or opinion is considered authoritative

“How unfortunate,” mused Betty to her rain-soaked, fashion-conscious friends, “that our fashion disaster would be caused by the new paper-dress trend.” It would figure that the arbiter of the latest fashion craze was the New York Times.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/mapclick.php?textfield1=47.213805&textfield2=-123.113412&site=all&smap=1&searchresult=shelton%2c%20wa%2c%20usa

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Over Energy Subsidy Dispute - Alcoa To Temporarily Curb Aluminum Output in Italy “…Alcoa has complained about high power prices in Italy…Italy’s parliament approved a power decree offering favorable conditions to some industrial consumers to convince Alcoa to keep its Italian plants working…” (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN1111089320100511

Talks Between ‘Car Guys’ Got Jefferson PUD-PSE Deal Rolling - Some residents question $103 million price tag for power utility (Port Townsend Leader, WA)

http://www.ptleader.com/main.asp?SectionID=36&SubSectionID=55&ArticleID=26874

Port Townsend Leader Op/Ed - Jefferson PUD Foresees Benefits of Community-Based Power

http://www.ptleader.com/main.asp?SectionID=5&SubSectionID=5&ArticleID=26879

Port Townsend Leader Op/Ed - PUD Zapped Customers in East Jefferson County

http://www.ptleader.com/main.asp?SectionID=5&SubSectionID=5&ArticleID=26878

Central Russian Hydropower Plant Blast Kills Two, Wounds One (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2011844799_apeurussiapowerplant.html?syndication=rss

Snowpack Isn’t Helping Chelan PUD’s Melting Budget (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2010/may/12/snowpack-isnt-helping-puds-melting-budget/

Natural Gas Complements Renewables “…Wind & solar only provide enough power in Oregon for 15 days, & we’ve fully allocated our hydro resources…” (Sustainable Business Oregon)

http://www.sustainablebusinessoregon.com/columns/2010/05/natural_gas_complements_renewables.html

Kootenai Electric Lines Hit by Avista Crews (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/may/12/kootenai-electric-lines-hit-avista-crews/

Grays Harbor PUD Commissioner, Seely Won’t Run for Re-Election (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2010/05/11/local_news/doc4be9b4e6cd571916876219.txt

Texas - Pedernales Electric Cooperative Members Want Say in Co-Op’s Charitable Giving: Wildflower Center gift raises questions about how nonprofit utility spends money on causes (Austin American-Statesman, TX)

http://www.statesman.com/news/local/pedernales-members-want-say-in-co-ops-charitable-683067.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

West Coast Salmon Fishing to be Monitored (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/05/10/27155.htm

Summer Steelhead Season Still On (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/bill_monroe/index.ssf/2010/05/summer_steelhead_season_still.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Chehalis River Dam Plan Pitched To Grays Harbor County Commissioners (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2010/05/11/local_news/doc4be9ba6a08d68757060107.txt

Chesapeake Bay Settlement Has EPA Agreeing To Enforce Pollution Reduction Goals (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/11/AR2010051105212.html?wprss=rss_business

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Grays Harbor PUD Has “Big Question Mark” on Radar Ridge Wind Project (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2010/05/11/local_news/doc4be9b34424534375394210.txt

Developer Adage Hopeful on Two US $250 Million Biopower Plants (Recharge)

http://www.rechargenews.com/energy/biofuels/article214351.ece

Indiana - Regulators to Hear Comments on Scottsburg Biomass Project (Louisville Courier-Journal, KY)

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20100511/NEWS02/5110337/

Panel OKs Plan to Burn Biomass at University of Wisconsin Power Plant (Wisconsin State Journal)

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/article_27f12c2d-8e4e-5a10-9f85-03d2a5c4dbaf.html

Columbian Editorial - Analyzing Biomass: Cutting-Edge Power Industry Is Taking Hold in Proposed Pacific Northwest Projects

http://www.columbian.com/news/2010/may/12/analyzing-biomass/

Biomass Magazine Op/Ed - Biomass Power is a Natural Fit

http://www.biomassmagazine.com/article.jsp?article_id=3692

Air Quality: Moses Lake Silicon Plant Fined $14,000 (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2010/05/11/1010270/air-quality-moses-lake-silicon.html

Idaho Presents Itself as the ‘Green Energy State’ “…Idaho’s decision not to require renewable portfolio standards may turn out to help the state’s green energy industry…utilities forced to adopt the earliest green energy technology may get locked into less-efficient, more costly technology…” (Idaho Statesman, Boise, ID)

http://www.idahostatesman.com/2010/05/12/1189200/idaho-presents-itself-as-the-green.html

Kennewick Company, Infinia to Get $3 Million for Solar Battery Research (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2010/05/11/1010320/infinia-to-get-3-million-for-solar.html

Everett Solar Panels to Power Electric Cars (Associated Press)

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/6420ap_wa_solar_snohomish.html?source=pimail

Solar Stampede Prompts Temporary Halt for New Jersey Rebate Program (Sunpluggers)

http://sunpluggers.com/news/solar-stampede-prompts-temporary-halt-for-new-jersey-rebate-program-0500

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Oregon Adopts New Energy Efficiency Code (Eugene Register-Guard, OR)

http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/business/24784448-46/energy-code-efficiency-oregon-areas.csp

Philips Offers LED Replacement for 60-Watt Bulb (CNET News)

http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-20004766-54.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=GreenTech

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

US Senate’s Climate Bill Makes Its Debut (NY Times)

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/05/12/senate-climate-bill-makes-its-debut-today/?partner=rss&emc=rss

NY Times Analysis - The American Power Act

http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/05/12/the-american-power-act/?partner=rss&emc=rss

Glacier National Park Turns 100, But May Not Last Another 10 (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/weather/climate/globalwarming/2010-05-11-glacier-national-park_N.htm

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Microsoft Gets More Aggressive With Free Software (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/products/2010-05-12-microsoft-office_N.htm

US Broadband Demand Bounces Back (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/2010/05/12/us-broadband-demand-bounces-back/

Zoom! Zoom! Why Our Insatiable Need for Broadband Equals Bigger Pipes (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/2010/05/11/terabit-suboptic/

Cable Worries about Web Video as Fee Disputes Grow (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6496C720100510

One in Four Households with Cell Phone, No Landline (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2011844912_apuscellphonesonly.html?syndication=rss

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Tax Bills in 2009 at Lowest Level since 1950 (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/taxes/2010-05-10-taxes_N.htm

GENERAL NEWS

Public Gets First Look at Mason General Hospital Expansion & Remodel Plans (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/news/2127-public-gets-first-look-at-mgh-expansion-and-remodel-plans

Sequim Man on Trial for Branding Children “Like Cattle” (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011844639_apwabrandingchildren.html?syndication=rss

C-17 Workers Strike Boeing in Long Beach, California (Associated Press)

http://www.examiner.com/a-2624488~C_17_workers_strike_Boeing_in_Long_Beach__Calif_.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines

Libyan Jet Crash Kills 103, Boy Only Survivor (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE64B16V20100512

Acquisition of 1,300 Acres Would Expand Dosewallips State Park (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2010/may/11/acquisition-of-1300-acres-would-expand-state/?partner=RSS

Swarms of Grasshoppers Predicted To Plague the West This Year (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/05/swarms_of_grasshoppers_predict.html

Drifting Satellite Threatens US Cable Programming (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2011844677_apoutofcontrolsatellite.html?syndication=rss

Thieves Steal Controversial War Memorial Cross in Mojave Desert - Reward Offered (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/From-the-news-wires/2010/0511/Thieves-steal-controversial-war-memorial-cross-in-Mojave-Desert-reward-offered

Peter Frampton Concerts Cancelled in Shelton, WA & AZ (KBKW-Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

http://kbkw.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=1593

DIVERSIONS

Water Well Drillers Strike Oil in Small South Dakota Town

http://www.keloland.com/NewsDetail6162.cfm?Id=0,99976

Judge says Elderly Sister Can Keep Lottery Prize – Woman Doesn’t Have to Share with Feuding Sibling

http://www.kirotv.com/news/23528857/detail.html

Man, 22, Accused of Posing as Student - Led Basketball Team To State Playoffs

http://www.kirotv.com/sports/23525225/detail.html

Moth-Munching Bird Finds Perch at Twins Ballpark

http://www.kirotv.com/sports/23517140/detail.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Neil Young – Old Man

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcdSWfWSqGE